By Graeme Anderson

On Saturday Clackmannans first eleven entertained Dunfermline Carnegie at the Arns. For the last game of the season and with Clackmannan unable to get promoted, there was an end of season feel to the match.
Winning the toss Clackmannan decided to bat first and the usual openers of Anderson and Logan headed out to bat. The ball was moving around and bouncing higher than normal, early in the innings. This resulted in both batsmen receiving some good fortune through the slip area. In the 7th over Anderson(4) eventually fell to a good catch at slip, with the score on 21. This brought Craig Black to the crease who,  along with Logan, started to dominate the proceedings.
The two batsmen moved the score onto 90 after 20 overs, and were both looking like going on to get a big score. However Black skied one in the next over and was caught at cover for 34. Logan continued to bat until the 38th over, compiling lots of ones and twos as he worked his way to 72. The rest of the batsmen supported Logan, with only Tippu Sultan(22) looking like doing any damage, hitting some lusty fours back over the bowlers head, before he was caught behind. The tail end batsmen did their best, but a couple of calamitous run outs, meant that Clackmannan were all out for 191 using only 44 overs.
After the sandwiches, Clackmannan took to the field with Black and Ashraf tearing into the opposition. In the second over Ashraf trapped Honeyford LBW for 2 with only 3 runs on the board. Black followed this up with a maiden before Ashraf bowled the second opening batsmen with the third ball of the next over. Leaving Dunfermline at 3 for 2. On the last ball of Blacks next over, Carnegies number three batsmen edged one to Anderson at 2nd slip, who managed to parry the ball behind him to Hefer at 1st slip, to make Dunfermline 3 for 3. Two byes in the next over took Dunfermline’s score onto 5, but they were to lose another wicket as Ashraf found the edge of the bat, giving Logan a simple catch. The first ball of Blacks next over produced an instant replay of the last ball he bowled, however this time Anderson had to dive to his left to parry the ball to Hefer, who had dived full stretch to his right to take a brilliant catch.
This put Carnegie at 7 for 5, and with only 10 players in their team, Clackmannan needed only 4 wickets. A small partnership was then to develop as Dunfermline tried to fight for a bit of pride. However the next wicket fell to Ashraf again, with Logan standing up to the stumps he took a brilliant catch off the edge of the bat. When the batsmen underestimated James Coupers fielding ability, allowing him the chance of a run out, another wicket fell. Carnegie were now 7 wickets down. Sultan replaced Black, who had given his all but just couldn’t pick up any more wickets. Sultan bowled what was to turn out to be his only over the game, produced one run but picking up a wicket when the batsmen gloved one through to Logan. Four balls later Ashraf picked up a deserved five for, as Logan was finally, after 12 matches, given a stumping, the first one on the last ball of the season. Carnegie had managed to make 18 runs, but Ashraf was simply too good, finishing with figures of 8.4 overs, 5 maidens 3 runs for 5 wickets. Supported by Black who bowled 8 overs, 2 maidens, 9 runs for 2 wickets. Ashrafs performance is even more special when considered that 1 run was a wide and the other two came from a French cut to fine leg.
A good end to the season for Clackmannan but disappointing to miss out on promotion. Early season inconsistency cost the team, who on their day are capable of competing at a much higher level.